Nicole Richie Pleads Not Guilty to DUI

Nicole Richie pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor drunk-driving charge stemming from her December arrest in Los Angeles.

Richie's lawyer, Shawn Chapman, entered the plea on behalf of the Simple Life star, who did not appear in court. Richie's next court date is April 2.

Because of a prior DUI conviction in June 2003, by California law, she faces mandatory jail time of 90 days up to one year if convicted of the second DUI.

Richie was spotted driving the wrong way on an L.A. highway on Dec. 11. She was found stopped in a carpool lane by police, and subsequently failed a field sobriety test. According to police, Richie admitted to officers that she had smoked marijuana and consumed the painkiller Vicodin.